Four hills – one winner
Every year, Germany and Austria share the winter sports festival par excellence: the Four Hills Tournament. As in every year, the tournament has its own rules and has one or two surprises in store.
For many people it has already become a tradition to gather in front of the TV around the New Year and watch the competitions of the ski jumping elite. As in every year, it would be too nice if the tour would go off without any complications. Despite all this, ski jumping fans got their money’s worth.
The German Favorite
On 28.12 the starting signal was given for the 70th Four Hills Tournament. In the beforehand to the event, German fans in particular were waiting in anticipation for the hope of a German winner. Since 2001/2002 Sven Hannawald’s got the Grand Slam, none of the DSV eagles could bring home the golden eagle. The experts’ opinions were all the more euphoric when Karl Geiger entered the race with the yellow jersey of the World Cup leader on his home hill.
Not only the continuous rain in Oberstdorf caused a bad mood. Also the general result did not make the fans optimistic.
The best German finished in 5th place, but Japan’s Ryoyu Kobayashi was in top form and won clearly ahead of Norway’s Halvor Egner Granerud and Robert Johansson.
After the New Year’s jumping fans were in a more euphoric mood in Garmisch. Already in the qualification Markus Eisenbichler secured the victory. Only 0.2 points separated him from victory on the following day. Thus, the Eisei had to admit defeat to Kobayashi by a narrow margin.
Four Hills Tournament: The cursed Bergisel
As every year the Innsbruck hill is a critical turning point in the Tour ranking. Tour favorites have often suffered miserable failures at the third station and literally buried their hopes of victory. This year, due to strong winds, the final round did not even take place. This was finally held at the fourth venue, in Bischofshofen. Here, too, the day’s victory went to Japan.
Even though the tour winner was already decided at the beginning of the last jump in Bischofshofen, there was a lot of excitement. After all, the question was whether Kobayashi would succeed in the Grand Slam or another jumper would secure the day’s victory. In the end, Austrian Daniel Huber proved to have the strongest nerves and secured first place ahead of Granerud and Geiger.
Although the German jumpers as well as the fans hoped for a little more luck for the tour. Nevertheless, there was a lot of suspense like every year. Furthermore, the young talents of all nations showed that they are to be counted on in the next years. Never before has the top field in ski jumping moved closer together.
Statement
The Four Hills Tournament takes place every year from Dec. 28 to Jan. 6. The venues of the first two places are Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where also the legendary New Year’s Jumping takes place. The two other jumps take place in Austrian resorts of Innsbruck and Bischofshofen.
Source Cover Image: Unsplash / Mathias Elle
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